Broadband plans more `complicated`

Johannesburg, 14 May 2009

The surprise appointment of Siphiwe Nyanda as communications minister and the creation of an overarching planning ministry will complicate the process of engagement, says the National Broadband Forum.

According to Steve Song, telecommunications fellow at the Shuttleworth Foundation, the various changes in government will result in a "more complicated process".

The National Broadband Forum is an initiative of the Association for Progressive Communications, SA Connect, the Shuttleworth Foundation and the South African NGO Network. The group has taken on the task of drafting a framework for a "comprehensive national broadband strategy" - which it hopes will form part of government policy.

"No one in the industry expected this appointment," says Song, referring to the appointment of Nyanda, the former head of the SA National Defence Force, to the top communications post. Song adds that ongoing engagement will be key to his term.

"His lack of experience in this sector could mean the role of civil society should become all the more important. If someone like Pallo Jordaan had been appointed minister, the issues which we are raising would have been better understood.`

Song says a letter to the minister has been drafted and the forum is in the process of seeking a meeting with him. He adds that the framework would not be presented at a sitting of Parliament, but the forum would focus on its main strategy of facilitating engagement between civil society and government. Song adds he has "no idea" whether the minister will be receptive to the work presented by the forum, saying they would have to "play this one by ear".

Complicated process

Song states the forum`s goals - which include the provision of affordable broadband access to the Internet for all South Africans by maximising fibre and wireless broadband infrastructure - could possibly fall into the hands of the newly established National Planning Commission (NPC).

Jacob Zuma, on announcing his Cabinet, stated the "very powerful" NPC would be in charge of the creation of a national strategy, which would then be adopted by the various ministries. This means broadband access would have to fall within the national strategy and be driven by key departments, such as the Department of Communications (DOC).

The DOC previously indicated it is in the process of deliberating on the national broadband policy and it welcomes input from private organisations.

Song says that, as decision-making would now involve more ministries than previously envisioned, having a say in the development of a national broadband strategy would become a "more complicated process".

"Hopefully some sympathetic voices in the Department of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Public Service Enterprises might help the process," says Song.

High expectations

Following its convention in March, the forum has consolidated comments received from participating groups into a proposal document. A Web site has been created where the framework can be accessed. The forum has invited interested groups and individuals to comment on the framework.

Hopefully some sympathetic voices in the Department of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Public Service Enterprises might help the process.
Steve Song, telecoms fellow, Shuttleworth Foundation

Song previously stated the forum was looking to have a "critical mass" of support for the proposed framework and, once this was achieved, government would be engaged on the incorporation of the framework into a policy document.

At last count this morning, the Web site had 1 228 individual signatures and 171 organisations` signatures. Song says the forum hopes to gather more than 10 000 individual signatures before presenting the framework to the minister.

"It`s a start. But it`s nothing at what we need it to be to make an impact. We need more signatures; if it goes to the minister and all we have is a 1 000 signatures, it will be a big disappointment," says Song.